Conservation of the built environment

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Many of Cardiff’s important buildings, archaeological remains and open spaces are protected in order to preserve the city’s special character. 

Conservation Areas

​​ ​Cardiff has 27 conservation areas (PDF 483 KB)​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​that have been designated for their special architectural or historic interest. You can find out if a property is within a conservation area on a map​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​. 

There are national planning controls if your property is in a conservation area and guidance on these rules can be found on the Planning Portal​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​. Many areas also have Article 4 Directions, which give additional controls over various minor alterations, such as alterations to windows (PDF 866 KB)​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​. View a list of joiners specialising in the repair and reproduction of traditional windows and doors.

If you are considering an alteration to your property and would like advice, you can​​​ sub​​​mit a pre-application enquiry.

Permission is also required for works to trees within conservation areas.

The documents linked below describe the character of each conservation area and provide information about the controls in place. 

Historic Parks and Gardens 

There are 19 parks and gardens in Cardiff that feature within the Cadw Register​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​ of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. The register provides information to help protect and conserve these special places, 12 of which are public parks. 

View Cardiff’s historic parks and gardens on the map​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​. 

Listed Buildings 

There are around 1,000 listed buildings in Cardiff. You can find out if a building is listed on a map​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​. 

Buildings are given a listing by Cadw​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​to ensure that their special architectural or historic interest is fully recognised in the planning system. Listed Building Consent (PDF 47 KB)​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​ is needed when a proposed alteration or extension affects the character of a listed building, or those in its curtilage. A Heritage Impact Statement​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​ is required for all Listed Building Consent applications. 

Remember: It is a criminal offence to carry out such works to a listed building without first acquiring the necessary Listed Building Consent. 

Cadw regularly survey the condition of listed buildings. Buildings at Risk (BAR) reports are available for assessments undertaken in 2011 (PDF 4.1 MB)​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​ and 2015 (1.3mb PDF)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​​. 

Locally Listed Buildings 

Around 300 buildings in Cardiff have been locally listed. The intention of this listing is for locally significant architectural or historic interest to be recognised within the planning system.

View locally listed buildings on the map​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​

Scheduled Monuments 

Cadw has scheduled 28 Scheduled Monuments (PDF 889 KB)​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​in Cardiff, ranging from prehistoric archaeology to WWII defences. The locations can be viewed on a map​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​. 

It is an offence to carry out works at the site of a scheduled ancient monument without first obtaining the necessary Scheduled Ancient Monument​​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window​consent from Cadw. 

Contact Us

​Conservation
Room 223
County Hall
Cardiff
CF10 4UW